Is your daily driver over 20 years old?
Discussion
I've pretty much always driven older stuff... up until 6yrs ago I did nigh on 100k in a 1993 Cavalier Turbo and currently I have this, which has just turned 20 years old back in December and is a fraction off hitting the 250,000 mile mark. Would've done it but the damn odometer has broken, again.
It was used daily up until March but I've since bought something much newer to run for a few weeks whilst this one gets sorted, that said it's still on the road and still gets used... and when I say 'newer', newer being a 17 year old, 180,000 mile T5.
It was used daily up until March but I've since bought something much newer to run for a few weeks whilst this one gets sorted, that said it's still on the road and still gets used... and when I say 'newer', newer being a 17 year old, 180,000 mile T5.
Had a simple old 89 Ford Transit, had it for 15 years and 165,000 miles never gave any trouble. Then 'Boris' decided it was too dirty for todays smart London living, forcing me to spend over 6000gbp for a 'clean' Mk7 Transit with 60,000 miles, well first the starter went, then the timing chain started rattling, needing new chain, guides and tensioner, now the turbo has started leaking oil !!......Wouldn't mind, but these are so awful and complicated to work on for a diy project.
1989 auto Eunos was perfect for a horrendous (Chiswick> Watford) daily commute. £895 of utter reliability and top down fun.
The 1990 UK MX5 it replaced was no less perfect. Only sold because I got sick of clutching on the north circular.
Followed these two with a 97 318is (not quite 20+ yet), another faultless, entertaining, sub £1K ancient daily.
Buy wisely, and a 20+ y/o daily is very doable. I could afford a newer, objectively 'better' DD, but experience has taught me that an old shed can actually save you a lot of cash. More money to spend on toys too.
Stuff like old Accords and Avensis would be my picks if space/ cruising is the priority. LS would be my no. 1, but your annual mileage may make the big V8 unrealistic.
The 1990 UK MX5 it replaced was no less perfect. Only sold because I got sick of clutching on the north circular.
Followed these two with a 97 318is (not quite 20+ yet), another faultless, entertaining, sub £1K ancient daily.
Buy wisely, and a 20+ y/o daily is very doable. I could afford a newer, objectively 'better' DD, but experience has taught me that an old shed can actually save you a lot of cash. More money to spend on toys too.
Stuff like old Accords and Avensis would be my picks if space/ cruising is the priority. LS would be my no. 1, but your annual mileage may make the big V8 unrealistic.
SidewaysSi said:
Yep, Mercedes W124 E220. 1995, 94k and totally solid and reliable. A supremely comfortable car and I get over 35mpg on average out of it. Brilliant machine.
I still remember a trip to Cornwall driving my sisters nearly new W124 E220, it just lapped up the miles, great car!My daily for the past 16 years has been a 1985 VW Scirocco that has a turbo diesel engine. (All recorded and above board with DVLA, VOSA & Insurers).
That said, this winter just gone, it was SORNED for the first time ever as I begun to question the wisdom of subjecting a 30 year old car to months of salty roads!
It's a super reliable car and gives no bother whatsoever. Whilst deeply unfashionable when I bought it in late 1999, it now seems to be viewed a 'cool' and different choice to driving and attracts lots of positive comments.
That said, this winter just gone, it was SORNED for the first time ever as I begun to question the wisdom of subjecting a 30 year old car to months of salty roads!
It's a super reliable car and gives no bother whatsoever. Whilst deeply unfashionable when I bought it in late 1999, it now seems to be viewed a 'cool' and different choice to driving and attracts lots of positive comments.
daytona365 said:
Had a simple old 89 Ford Transit, had it for 15 years and 165,000 miles never gave any trouble. Then 'Boris' decided it was too dirty for todays smart London living, forcing me to spend over 6000gbp for a 'clean' Mk7 Transit with 60,000 miles, well first the starter went, then the timing chain started rattling, needing new chain, guides and tensioner, now the turbo has started leaking oil !!......Wouldn't mind, but these are so awful and complicated to work on for a diy project.
I used a 1980 Transit table top, with a body built to carry 4 horses as my daily for over a year. In Oz they came with a 4.1L straight 6 Falcon engine, so went well.I only worked for a mate near by a couple of days a week, & used the truck for deliveries of advanced shrubs to nurseries the rest of the time, when not full of kids horses.
It was totally reliable, & not too bad on fuel either surprisingly.
My daily MGB is more than double that at 44 years old. Still sees every type of driving and happy driving down the outside lane of the motorway with OD engaged. Very cheap insurance, no tax and parts are easily available and cheap. I can't think why I'd want to change it for anything else.
20 this year. 1995 3 door Honda civic 1.5
Was the mil's which she gave to us three years ago as she doesn't drive it. We took it with 12k on it, now up to 26 so approx 4k a year.
All I've done to it is replace the exhaust Centre pipe and back box, small bit of rust on the shell that needed sorting for mot. Recently got some new alloys to replace the 13inch steels.
If drives faultlessly and is like new inside, I love the contrast to our z4 coupe.
Was the mil's which she gave to us three years ago as she doesn't drive it. We took it with 12k on it, now up to 26 so approx 4k a year.
All I've done to it is replace the exhaust Centre pipe and back box, small bit of rust on the shell that needed sorting for mot. Recently got some new alloys to replace the 13inch steels.
If drives faultlessly and is like new inside, I love the contrast to our z4 coupe.
crofty1984 said:
I've had a few 20+ daily drivers. Though the current one is only 16. 1.8 Avensis I bought for next to nowt. Brilliant thing. Though it does smell a little of dog.
+1But mine's 15 years old and was purchased about 8 years ago, still going strong. Touch wooden dashboard....
Not dog smell, but the previous owners' foul tobacco smell eventually went.
All mine are that old, well nearly. 944 is 25 yrs old and on 253k, rr is 21 yrs old at 196k and the 21 is only 18 yrs old and a mere 53k.
All used this time of year, although all out of action for a couple of days last week, typical. Still back up and running again now.
I sometimes think a newer car would be nice, last week was one of those times, but I'm not good at getting rid of things.
All used this time of year, although all out of action for a couple of days last week, typical. Still back up and running again now.
I sometimes think a newer car would be nice, last week was one of those times, but I'm not good at getting rid of things.
mr_tony said:
39 years old last week.
Thanks to trackdemon for the pic.
She's going soon once a mag article is sorted. Going to miss her a lot.
Thanks to trackdemon for the pic.
She's going soon once a mag article is sorted. Going to miss her a lot.
~begins searching through post history for more pics~
I ran my 91 Fiesta RS turbo as a daily. 20 miles per day then after a change of job down to 10 miles. Was always a bit paranoid about any noises and it did begin to have a few problems but sold it on for a 96 mx5 which had no issues as a daily, as you'd expect.
Now in something a little newer and prefer it.
mr_tony said:
39 years old last week.
Thanks to trackdemon for the pic.
She's going soon once a mag article is sorted. Going to miss her a lot.
Sadly sold on as i moved country, but i ran my '75 911 for 5 years at 20,000km / year in Singapore. In that time required a few new sets of boots, one new set of disks and a few pads, one clutch and oil changes every 10 - 15,000km. Thanks to trackdemon for the pic.
She's going soon once a mag article is sorted. Going to miss her a lot.
Never missed a beat, i ran her from 31 years old to 36 years old.
They are tough old girls them old Porkers!!!
XJSJohn said:
Sadly sold on as i moved country, but i ran my '75 911 for 5 years at 20,000km / year in Singapore. In that time required a few new sets of boots, one new set of disks and a few pads, one clutch and oil changes every 10 - 15,000km.
Never missed a beat, i ran her from 31 years old to 36 years old.
They are tough old girls them old Porkers!!!
Nice they are tough - and simple. When I bought it the screen washers weren't working. Removed stripped debunked and rebuilt the pump in just about an hour and it was sorted. In a newer car it would have taken an hour to find it and work out what parts to remove to get at it!Never missed a beat, i ran her from 31 years old to 36 years old.
They are tough old girls them old Porkers!!!
My new daily is already here - a 13 year old e46 m3 with only 76k. It feels space age in comparison and is a great drive, but the 911 is way more fun.
I seem to be crazy as my weekend toys are new and my dailies are old. Oh well, it works...
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